Thread: Old Woodfast Combination 12" Saw, 6" Planer & Morticer - Brisbane listed on Gumtree

Detailed story of an amazing detailed restoration of one of these machines here.
A tale of two Woodfast combination machines

Earlier this year I modified the 3P 415V motor for this machine so it would run on a 240V 3P VFD.
The common point junction that has to be extracted was well hidden under a few other wires inside the motor but we found it OK and the conversion went smoothly enough.

I've used this machine ~40 years ago with 415V 3P and though it was a bit underpowered for a 12" blade but it does fine on a 10" blade.

Thanks Bob, for your comments. I started looking at your thread - Wow, long term jobs. Do you still have any detail of the VFD you used please.
As an electrician, I could possibly offer that to a potential buyer.

Would you have any idea if there is any market for me to sell this ?

I was given it by an old friend a few years ago to pay a debt but I am not interested in it as a historical piece.
I have 3 phase currently so has been usefull up till now.

I really have no idea of it's value in the market ( I put $600 on it at the request of my friend) but if I have to drop to get rid of it, I would prefer it went to someone who would appreciate it's history.

Thanks again, your story may help any potential buyer with a full refurb.

Cheers
Frank

Well apart from the two I described in that thread we have dealt with one other at the mens shed. Sell Price is highly elastic. I think we ended up selling that one for $200 but it’s had no accessories and was in ordinary shape. Buyers interest would depend on 3P availability and given the limitations etc $600 is on the high side but is probably ok as an advertising starting price depending on number and condition of accessories

I should add the restoration in that thread is not me doing it but Anorak Bob who lives not far from me. He is a meticulous metal worker so I had every faith he could restore it and it’s accessories.

The VFD I used to test the converted motor with was a Powtran 9100 series but is not going to be the one used on this machine. The 9100s are industrial strength and cost VFDs with loads of programming capability etc. for a TS where little or none of this is needed I would just use a basic $100 VFD as this would cover the speed ranges needed for the accessories

The main thing I don’t like about those combo machines is that the planer and saw blade are connected. At the mens I watched a member cut a couple of fingers while using a similar machine. The combination multi accessory aspect could appeal to someone with restricted space but then they are less likely to have 3P. A VFD would increase the potential buyer pool.

If you were prepared to sell the morticer separately, I would be interested. I did a full restoration on one a couple of years ago, but not to standard of Bobs.

SOLD

Thanks for the help & advice. It sold first day on Facebook Marketplace and I had 4 other inquiries as well.

Gone to a good home as the fellow is going to try to refurb all functions